I don’t know about you, but 2011 was not a stellar year here at the little praxeum. So I’m not mourning the passing of this sad, disappointing year; neither am I looking at 2012 with hysterical dread like some.

(On a personal note: Dear MIL come home from hospital yesterday. Heartfelt thanks for the many prayers and words of encouragement during her illness. We spent the first few hours of her freedom celebrating the wonderful non-hospital food at OK Cafe. Also, if Piedmont would kindly forward the address of the manufacturer of the concrete hospital beds they use, I would like to, ahem, write them a letter.)

I had planned some sprucing up around the blog over the holidays, but since the black hole of hospitalling ate our Christmas whole, well, it just didn’t happen. Maybe by spring break. Charlie would not call that a SMART goal. Heh.

I have no resolutions. I have no predictions, except for maybe one. 2012 is going to be one helluva roller-coaster ride. I don’t even know where to begin.

SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act, H.R. 3261) will consume our entire bandwidth, if Obama doesn’t just kill the switch altogether. More here, here, and here. The OPEN Act is a more workable alternative, but here’s two bucks saying you’ll never hear about it through the state run media. In typical fashion, our overlords are trying to push this through while the general public is distracted by the holidays.

If only the GOP would stop bickering and focus on Obama’s multitude of failures, at least the presidential portion of this election would be a breeze. Across the pond, Obama is being compared to Hoover and considered a cog in the general decline of world stability. In fact, many historians are comparing the the last decade or so to the 1930’s. I did that back in 2006. I wish more than two people read this blog. Just think if I could use my Jedi prowess up in DC! Smitty thinks that technology enables us humans to see potential outcomes, and that some of us, at least, have learned our history lessons:

The big question for 2012 is whether technology can prevent a repeat of a collapse into fascism, as in 1932, and a vast war. I’ll boldly predict that technology drives the problem the other way. People communicate enough to realize that the social welfare state is the biggest clay-footed idol since Nebuchadnezzar. The tricky question is how you maneuver out from under the idol before it topples and crushes you, i.e. what is the transition plan toward liberty.

My only caveat for The Smittster is while people are able to communicate instantaneously these days, how many will be able to break free from the indoctrination from years of indentured servitude to the entitlement gods to see the true dangers that lay ahead? Liberty is never free, regardless of what that lobbyist just whispered in your ear.

To me, besides being first out of the chute, Iowa is no longer relevant. It is just another manufactured media opportunity to manipulate opinions in an election cycle. Another frenzoid moment, compliments of a decayed system.

Europe is dying, rotting from the soul outward. We can still stop this in America. Our forefathers shed both blood and treasure to fight the corruption of tyrants and reclaim the freedom bestowed by our Creator. Now we get to do it in our own backyards.

There’s much more, but it’s time for football and after this past week, we deserve some time to kick back and enjoy the final days of our favorite sport.

The controversial proposal angered Georgia Tech officials, who say the state shouldn’t duplicate programs when it already has a campus dedicated almost entirely to engineering. The proposal even drew fire from Gov. Sonny Perdue, who spoke at the board meeting last month and urged the regents to move more slowly on starting expensive new programs.

But UGA President Michael Adams said the engineering program will help provide the state with more workers and draw more federal research dollars to the campus. He said the program can be started with existing money and will be phased in over five years.

“Ultimately, it’s what’s best for the state,” Adams said after the meeting. “It’s best that a research university have this option.”

For once, I agree with Michael Adams (yes, I know, don’t faint!). And as soon as they are available, I will definitely add a “UGA School of Engineering” t-shirt to my collection of Dawgly apparel.

Like this:

UPDATE: While I was gloating over hearing the news of the loss on the radio during the morning commute, I did NOT know that GT quarterback Josh Nesbitt suffered a broken arm during the game. Being the mother of a self-proclaimed bionic boy, I know that gut-wrenching feeling of a serious injury. I wish the young and talented Mr. Nesbitt a speedy and full recovery, even if he is a pesky Yellow Jacket.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. And many thanks to Chalmun the Great for allowing us to perform for you nightly instead of having us for dinner. Literally. We’ll be here all week. Try the Bantha; it’s delicious. And don’t forget to tip your “server.”

Things have been a bit wild around here. I’m tired of watching paint dry – I want to hang my curtains, my pictures, anything. Ready for furniture to be returned to its proper place. Ready for the little dog to back off from the brink of a nervous breakdown.

Email was flaky, so I missed a few things. Like Doug’s Handy List and Carol’s Groovy Groundhog picture… which, wait, I’ll save for a special occasion. Like when Obama says something really stupid.

Jim Treacher, that champion ruiner of monitors nationwide, was struck in a hit-and-run by a State Department SUV, whose driver is hiding behind the government’s skirts to avoid taking responsibility. Read them both – you’ll be amazed at the arrogant audacity and indifference shown to an injured citizen. What I want to know is, was Hillary in the car and did she tell the driver to step on the gas?

At all times, Diplomatic Security acted responsibly and appropriately and displayed due diligence in caring for the injured.

My hind-parts. More to come on this one.

Shout-outs and prayers for the many friends and relations about to the snowed in. Stay safe and warm. I hope it melts in time for CPAC! I wonder if I need to bring along a pair of these.